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Abstract

Background/Purpose: The aim of this work was to evaluate the late complications after circumcision.

Patients and methods: A retrospective file review of 45 boys, (3 months to 5 years) referred, over the last 5 years (September 2005–September 2010) for circumcision-related complications to pediatric surgery consultation circumcision was performed by health professionals with the use of Plastibell, whereas in others it was performed by local nonmedical personnel. The complications were observed late; usual time for consultation was between 4 and 10 months after circumcision operation.

Results: A total of 45 children were operated for late complications, 16 cases were incomplete circumcision with redundant foreskin, 12 cases were with postcircumcision phimosis, nine cases had foreskin adherent to the glans, three cases had a completely buried penile shaft (concealed penis), four cases were with meatal stenosis and one case was with scar due to degloving of the penile skin.

Conclusion: The use of various techniques without proper knowledge and skills results in a significant number of complications that can be avoided if the operation is performed with adequate training in the technique and its postoperative care.

Patients and methods

This study was performed at the paediatric surgery unit, a section of the General Surgery Department at the Karak Government Hospital affiliated to the Mu'tah Medical College. This unit covers a half-million population area.

A retrospective review of the records of patients referred to us for circumcision-related post operative complications over a 5 years period (from Sept. 2005 to Sept. 2010) was done. Charts were designed to collect the following data from files: age at circumcision, method used, age of presentation for post operative complication, nature of the circumcision-related post operative complications and the surgical correction done.

Discussion

The rate of performing circumcision varies with different countries, racial groups, social levels and religious background.

The most common procedures involve the use of the Gomco clamp, as described by Manson [1] or the Mogen clamp or Plastibell device, used by Kariher and Smith [2].

Successful performance depends on the awareness of the technique and to make the resection of the foreskin at the coronal level. The degree of circumcision can be assist.

In relation to the length of the foreskin that remained after the operation.

The degree of circumcision can be assessed in relation to the length of the foreskin that remained covering the glans after the operation, and the exposure of the coronal sulcus into four types: A, B, C and D (Wynder and Licklider [3]), where A means that the glans is almost completely covered by foreskin, B, C means that the glans is partially covered by foreskin and D means complete removal of the foreskin. The degree of circumcision may also be classified into three grades: Circumcised, Partially Circumcised, and Uncircumcised (Dunn and Buell [4]).

As the total number of circumcisions performed in our region was not available, and our unit of paediatric surgery is one of several referral centres in the region, and some of these cases are referred to urological and plastic surgery units as well, the incidence of postcircumcision complication is unknown.

Nevertheless, our findings suggest the significant technical problems in performing the circumcision in this region.

The most common indication for revision circumcision was the presence of excess foreskin, (uncircumcized appearance), which was 35.6% in our report versus 40.1% in the study carried out by Pieretti et al. [5]. Similarly, Brisson et al. [6] found that redundant foreskin was the most common indication for revision circumcision.

Williams and Kapila [7] reported a complication rate of 2–10%, whereas Leitch [8] showed an early complication of 8% and a late complication of 7.5% in his study.

A number of mild cases of complications, such as meatal stenosis and fore skin adhesion, can be easily treated [9,10].

Major complication injuries resulting from instrumentation are retained Plastibell rings, [11] Glans amputation, [12] injuries to the glans and corpus cavernosum, [13] total ablation of the penis [14] and Penile Amputation [15].

The four cases of meatal stenosis that required correction by meatotomy procedure gave a history of meatal ulcer after circumcision operation.

On reviewing the literature, half the cases of meatal stenosis occurred in children with meatal ulceration [16].

Freud [17] considers the meatal orifice to be abnormally small if the anteroposterior diameter is 3 mm or less.

Most of the acquired cases of phimosis after circumcision are because of very little foreskin removed at operation, with the infection at the circumcized site that is healed by fibrosis. Twelve cases in this study were treated by resection of the scar and recircumcision.

With regard to the three concealed penises even after circumcision, inadequate dissection of the prepuce and removal of excess penile skin are the causes of this complication; [19] a number of reported complications are due to failure to observe the recommendations for the use of the device.

The most commonly accepted theory is the tendency of the penile shaft to retract into a deep prepubertal fat pad by the reaction of the newly formed circular mucocutaneous union with cicatrization. The puckering scar tissue build up closes over the retracted penis [20].

Trier and Drach [19] suggested that owing to inadequate separation of the inner surface of the prepuce from the glans, coupled with the use of a circumcision device, can lead to the problem of penile concealment.

Conclusion

Circumcision is a surgical procedure that is associated with potential operative and postoperative complications. Most of these complications result from the use of various techniques without the proper knowledge and skills.

Most of these complications can be prevented by adequate training in the technique and its postoperative care.

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